‘I never claimed to be perfect,’ says Chief Balderrama
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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno’s Police Chief Paco Balderrama gave a short statement inside Fresno City Hall on Wednesday in response to revelations about his “inappropriate off-duty relationship.”
On June 6, city officials released a statement that said that Balderrama notified Mayor Jerry Dyer and City Manager Georgeanne White in February of an allegation that would likely be made against him related to an “inappropriate off-duty relationship he was involved in with a non-city employee.”
Chief Balderrama investigation: YourCentralValley.com’s complete coverage
On June 10, the union representing the city’s police officers, the Fresno Police Officers’ Association, said that the “trust has been lost” between their members and Balderrama. In response to the union’s statement, Balderrama said on June 10 that he “will pay for those mistakes” and asked for forgiveness from his staff.
After the Fresno City Council budget meeting, Balderrama addressed the statement that he released and said it was from the heart and that he wrote the statement himself.
“This is the most difficult time in my life and my family’s life. So I do ask for a little bit of grace, I do ask for a little bit of forgiveness. I never claimed to be perfect,” he said.
‘Trust has been lost’: Fresno Police Officers’ Association on Chief Balderrama investigation
Balderrama says the city will not let him talk about the current investigation and that he is human and is not perfect. He says he plans to continue to lead the police department to greater heights.
“I want to say thank you to the community and police officers because I have received hundreds and hundreds of messages. Sending me bible verses, saying they’re praying for me and my family, asking me please don’t quit,” Balderrama said.
Chief Balderrama will remain in his position at the Fresno Police Department while the investigation is ongoing.
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